Soda and Health: Is Soda Bad for My Blood Pressure?

You know that drinking too many sodas and other sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), such as teas and flavored drinks, is bad
for your waistline. New research shows that it may be bad for something else, too—your blood pressure. A new study of nearly
3,000 people published in the journal Hypertension reported that those who drank more than one serving a day of SSBs had
significantly higher blood pressure than participants who drank one serving (about 12 ounces) or less daily.

As a researcher, I look to see that other studies have confirmed a study's results before drawing a conclusion and giving
advice. The most convincing support, to date, for these recent findings comes from a 2010 study in Circulation. In that
study, when 810 people with high blood pressure or even slightly elevated blood pressure (pre-hypertension) reduced their
intake of SSBs over 18 months, they lowered their blood pressure.

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High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke, so as far as I’m concerned this is one more nail in
the coffin against SSBs. After all, we already know that SSBs are the top source of calories in Americans' diets and are void
of any essential nutrients.

Fortunately, our government is getting the message. The USDA's 2010 Dietary Guidelines tell Americans to "drink water instead
of sugary drinks"—a first. It doesn’t get much clearer than that. The calories you’ll save will undoubtedly help you reach,
or maintain, a healthy weight—and may be good for your blood pressure too.